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When its sunny outdoors there is only one place to ride...indoors competing in an omnium...Finishing 4th overall female was amazing setting a new PB in the 500TT & doing better than expected in the devil. Shattered.

Mondays maybe, but I know a lot of folks who do not have accreditation & ride the track league on Fridays (MRTL) & have entered various other events. I guess it depends on the levels & who is organising the event.

I'm hoping soon that the velodromes will share a database of accredited riders so a bit of paper isn't required. I guess it takes time to put these things in place (we are only just getting online booking here at Manchester) & standardised across the velodromes.

At Manchester if you don't do one of their SQT sessions for 6 months then it's almost back to square one: you have to gain accreditation again. To race in Manchesters track league you do not need accreditation, you can ride them without, same as at the track masters competitions & such. Having accreditation is beneficial though, it gives you the skills, confidence & know how.

Currently if you are accredited at one track you are not automatically accredited on other tracks. From what I have heard they are working on this, & hopefully it will make it easier to get on SQTs at other velodromes across the UK.

I guess I should add my sidi shoe info. I have two pairs, one a 39, one a 40 both womens fit. The 40s I wear on the road bike with custom insoles & 39s on the indoor track bike only (strangely these felt too small on the road bike!?). Both are super comfy & fit perfect for my needs.

Sidi's crazy sizing

Name | UK Real Size | EUR Real Size | Sidi Womens size | Sidi Mens size | Fit description
=============================== =======================================
mrs socks | ? | 41 | NA | 41 | Right fit
hats | 5 | 38/39 | 40 | NA | HUGE
poots | 6 | 39 | NA | 42 | Right fit
mands | 4 | 36.5 | 38 | NA | Right fit
LongAndWinding | 5 | 38 | 40 | NA | Right fit
tricitybendix | 6 | 39 | 41 | 40, I think | 41 women's super comfy, 41 men's a little big
betty | 5/6 | 39/40 | 39 & 40 | n/a | just right

Aaaaaand, I've registered. Maybe I'll come last this time...

Good to see you too, Betty! Are you coming to Herne Hill for the part 2?

I think that some folks are trying to persuade me to do it. Will need to sort out my gearing though. That first round I was spinning far too much, also the wobbly/sketchy girl worried me, especially as she fell off in the first corner!? It's a huge learning curve & I should probably just do it...round 2 here I come! (maybe?!) When is the sign up?

Spotted Dimi taking chunks out of the boards at Manchesters Keirin, along with the lovely Jimbilly & Mrs socks. So lovely to see you all & well raced Sirs!

Drew, I have one of these Park tools thingys. You are more than welcome to borrow it if its the right one.

Yeah! one I actually know...
OLD: Broughton Bridge over the river Irwell...

NEW: From one bridge over the Irwell to another...

I have some of the Howies ones & have been super happy with them. They have been super comfy on short rides, all day rides & on the track (where my more expensive Castelli shorts are super painful after half an hour, I won't go into detail). I like the lack of gripper around the leg, feel of the fabric, lack of branding (yeah, I know there is the small blue howies logo but its subtle compared to most brands) & they are comfortable.

Although they are now relegated to second choice bibs after my Giordana ones which I prefer the race/compression fit for my more competitive riding.

I'm finding 10mile TTs bad enough, not sure I'm ready to take the plunge & venture into 25s!

Third TT done & dusted on the J2/1. Not entirely sure how but I seem to be knocking 30 seconds off my time each time I do it. New PB is now 27:35 & really has me wondering what some aero kit would do...

Second 10 mile TT yesterday on the same route. It felt shorter this time round, but the legs hurt just as much. I regretted having a couple of pints the day before & my lack of substantial food BUT somehow managed to knock 30 seconds off my time. New PB is 28:08...time to get the party hat stuck on my helmet to make it aero, make a cardboard disc wheel & gaffer tape my shorts to my jersey into some sort of skinsuit type affair.

Good work Shoosh. I went to meet friends after I dropped you off then made my way home in the torrential downpour. The result being I now only have one pair of dry cycling shoes which are my track shoes. I am totally hating this weather & the resulting soggy feet/shoes & attempting to dry them out in the airing cupboard.

Not much cycling this weekend which is probably good news for my poor legs that are having weird spasms of pain. Less cycling, more beer & socialising...a good weekend overall.

This weekends riding involved a crit race, my first one ever. Unfortunately due to riding there was no time to take photos of the wheel in front. I managed to keep up with the main group but my lack of experience meant I wasn't ready to pounce for the final sprint. Lesson learnt & 11th overall, everything went better than expected.

Thanks kompute, think half the trouble is no one wants to draft the short skinny girl & I'm not forceful enough not to let people push me about. Still, my first ever road race & good practice for Saturday's crit race.

My own fault for not being bolshy enough, I'm evidently too kind & let people get in front of me/bully me over to the kerb. Still a decent average speed for the one lap I managed...better luck next time!

And yes, next time I'll avoid that road!

I think I must always look tired (or gormless) when cycling, I was possibly wondering why I had chosen to go down that road & that I should pace myself as I was heading to a race (which I totally failed at!).

WHAT! my first spot & I didn't even hear?! betty, I is disappoint...

Mostly bikes, cakes & things I've made.

PQR – PhilQR
Breso – Breso_org
Davog – Davo_g
bmxed – bmxed
Ben G – beardy_ben_dirty_stancing
Makko – makko9000
Thedopestghost – cogsucker
Photoben – origamiben
Indra – constant_changes
French Touch – marleymarleymarley
Roboto – robotosan
Jess|e – rideridejessie
Crimsonape – crimsonape
Nuknow – nuknow
Breso – breso_org
T slates – Thomas_slater
Gfys – xgfysx
EEI - Eastendimages
sumo - sumocycles
andypancake - andyfuckingellis
Hoke - who_da_ho
o'shane - sublimemoment
SP - Superprecision
Privatepatterson - private_patterson
dimi3 - dthr
amey - ameygokarn
overtheroad - thespray
eyebrows- [eyebroughs](")
yeahnerdz - ameniconi
apollo - apollo_0
Scoot - scoot__
umop3pisdn - umop_3pisdn
Errm_rich - errm_rich
Pooface - xanderhart
Crispin Glover - ah_hatch
betty - bettymadethis

Maybe so, but I am a puny girl who has no confidence in herself on the bike whatsoever. So I shall take my 28:38 & be happy with it!

Just home from my first 10 mile TT. My aim was to get under that half hour mark, a real challenge for me as I'm on my normal road bike & don't possess any of the fancy technology or streamlined things that everyone else has. I even forgot to take off my saddlebag, but its a step up from having mudguards on I suppose.

It was windy, undulating & riding with us were the likes of Dame Sarah Storey & Katie Archibald, definitely no fastest times for us mere mortals. Back at HQ after tea & cake I went to see my time & was so shocked to see I had done it in 28:38. I never dreamed of being so quick! Unfortunately this has now set my benchmark time which I will somehow need to improve upon...

There was still cake left!!! I think it got to the point where everyone was far too polite to take the last piece so kept doing that 'I'll just take a bit' thing.

I now hurt even more after the rollers & am unbelievably shocked that I beat a woman that actually races (even though I sat up & pretty much gave up at the end). Good to see you all & catch you all soon.

Alas not my cat, but I love visiting this handsome devil. Although it makes me want a cat all the more.

Like scoot says, being female gets you loads of QOMs,especially if you ride with guys. It seems to really but them when rides are uploaded & you've just Qom'd & trophied the entire journey. The other day I lost one of my QOMs 'ok, let's see who my competition is & how much quicker they are?'...beaten by 0.2mph by Dani King...I can live with that.

Wow! Nelson has made it onto the HHSB thread!

The wheels are on loan (nice & light plus make a great sound, stickers are under the lacquer so not removing even if they were mine), usually looks a bit more classy with Atlanta 96's & the saddle will HAVE to go as it is proving to be super uncomfortable when in the drops. Here he is in his normal attire: